Question 1

Sociological studies show that prisons:

Accepted Answer

Many sociological studies have shown that prisons are more likely to create hardened criminals than rehabilitated citizens. This is due to the harsh and punitive nature of the prison system, which emphasizes punishment over rehabilitation. Additionally, prisons are often overcrowded and understaffed, which can lead to violence and other negative outcomes. While some efforts have been made to improve rehabilitation programs in prisons, the overall focus tends to be on punishment rather than reform. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 2

How might reintegrative shaming work to rehabilitate an offender in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Reintegrative shaming works by acknowledging the wrongdoing but also providing opportunities for the offender to make amends and rebuild social bonds with the community. This approach recognizes that offenders are still members of the community and can be reformed through positive interactions and support rather than simply punishing and stigmatizing them. It has been used successfully in some restorative justice programs in the United States.

Question 3

Police forces have grown steadily in the past 30 years in response to public demands for more protection.How has this affected the rate of violent crime in the United States?

Accepted Answer

While police forces have grown, there is no clear causal relationship between this growth and the rate of violent crime in the United States. Factors such as poverty, drug use, and access to firearms likely play a more significant role in the incidence of violent crimes.

Question 4

The term sanction refers only to a reaction from others meant to punish nonconformity.

Accepted Answer

Sanctions can also refer to rewards for conformity, not just punishment for nonconformity.

Question 5

The average annual cost of housing a prisoner in the federal prison system in the United States is:

Accepted Answer

According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, the average annual cost of housing a prisoner in the federal prison system in the United States is around $29,000. While some inmates do work and contribute towards their expenses, it is not enough to cover the entire cost. Additionally, not all prisoners are able to work due to various factors such as health issues, disciplinary action, or lack of available jobs within the prison. Therefore, the correct answer is C) $29,000.

Question 6

Alice Goffman's research on men wanted by the police found that issuing warrants on a large scale for low-level violations:

Accepted Answer

Alice Goffman's research found that issuing warrants on a large scale for low-level violations transformed activities and social relations necessary to maintain a noncriminal identity into dangerous locations that could lead to arrest. This creates a culture of suspicion and distrust towards the police, which further perpetuates a cycle of criminal behavior. This suggests that the widespread use of warrants for minor offenses does not effectively reduce crime but instead creates a problematic environment.

Question 7

Which of the following most accurately describes the number of people in U.S.prisons?

Accepted Answer

The United States has the highest incarceration rate per capita in the world, with approximately 698 people per 100,000 population in prison. This is significantly higher than the incarceration rates of other developed countries.

Question 8

What do sociologists call a group such as a drug-dealing gang that follows some social norms but many of its own were considered strange by most people?

Accepted Answer

A deviant subculture is a group with norms and values that deviate from mainstream society, but are still consistent within the group. A drug-dealing gang would likely fall under this category as they have their own norms and values that are different from those of mainstream society, but are still consistent within the context of the group. The other options do not accurately describe this type of group.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes Americans' beliefs about capital punishment?

Accepted Answer

The percentage of Americans supporting the death penalty has nearly doubled in the past 40 years, indicating that a majority of Americans support capital punishment. Survey data consistently show that around 55-60% of Americans support the death penalty. Options A, B, D, and E are all incorrect or inaccurate.

Question 10

Even "deviant" groups have their own norms to which members are expected to conform.

Accepted Answer

Deviant groups may have different norms than mainstream society, but they still have expectations for their members to follow certain behaviors or beliefs.

Question 11

The process of bringing community and family members into court to publicly state their condemnation of a criminal's behavior and to accept the responsibility for reintegrating the offender back into the community is called:

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is known as reintegrative shaming. It involves bringing the offender, their family, and the community together to publicly shame the offender's behavior and then work towards reintegrating them into the community. This approach emphasizes repairing relationships and restoring community harmony, rather than just punishing the offender.

Question 12

Traditionally,police work involved controlling crime.Increasingly,however,police officers are:

Accepted Answer

With advances in technology and data analysis, police work is increasingly about using knowledge and data to predict and prevent crime rather than just react to it. This requires police officers to be knowledgeable about risk assessment and mapping, and to work with technology to better understand patterns of crime and potential areas of concern.

Question 13

Most people at some point engage in behavior that could be considered deviant.

Accepted Answer

This is true as deviance is a relative concept and is based on societal norms and values. Thus, behavior that is considered deviant in one society may not be considered deviant in another. Additionally, individuals may engage in behavior that is considered deviant at certain times in their lives but not at others.

Question 14

Alice Goffman found that the men she studied who were wanted by the police for low-level violations reduced their likelihood of being arrested when they:

Accepted Answer

Alice Goffman found that men who were wanted by the police for low-level violations reduced their likelihood of being arrested by being secretive and unpredictable about their whereabouts, making it harder for authorities to locate them.

Question 15

Community policing involves all of the following elements EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Community policing does not involve increasing the use of incarceration to remove offenders from the community. Instead, it focuses on prevention, problem-solving, and building relationships between law enforcement and the community.

Question 16

The term "prison-industrial complex" has been used by critics to describe the current American prison system.This refers to the fact that:

Accepted Answer

The term "prison-industrial complex" refers to the fact that many different entities, such as private prisons, prison labor industries, and government officials, have a vested interest in the expansion of the prison system. This interest can include financial gains, job security, and political power, creating a complex web of incentives that drive the growth of the prison system. This growth has been criticized for prioritizing profit and punishment over rehabilitation and social justice.

Question 17

In his study of a criminal gang in inner-city Chicago,Sudhir Venkatesh found that:

Accepted Answer

Venkatesh found that the gang ran its operations much like legitimate businesses, with clear division of labor and a hierarchy of authority.

Question 18

At the Democratic and Republican National Conventions of 2004,police restricted demonstrators to a specific location.In this way,authorities believed they could minimize any law violations.This tactic is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The tactic of restricting demonstrators to a specific location to minimize law violations is a form of situational crime prevention. This involves changing the physical or situational environment in order to prevent criminal activity before it occurs. In this case, the police are attempting to reduce the opportunity for criminal behavior by controlling the location and movement of the demonstrators.

Question 19

Which country has the highest incarceration rate in the world?

Accepted Answer

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with an estimated 693 individuals per 100,000 of the population being incarcerated in 2019. This is nearly five times higher than the global average. China, Cuba, Russia, and South Africa all have lower incarceration rates compared to the United States.

Question 20

Policy makers favor situational crime prevention techniques because they:

Accepted Answer

Policy makers often favor situational crime prevention techniques because they are seen as a visible, proactive response to crime that can reassure citizens and promote a sense of safety in communities. However, it is important to note that situational crime prevention techniques do not address the underlying sociological or economic factors that contribute to crime, and may not have an equal impact on all segments of the population.

Quiz 7: Conformity, deviance, and Crime